Dave Mackall stories, Page 21
New coach sees potential on Greensburg Salem softball roster
It is Bill Wright’s first high school season as a varsity softball coach, but he knows his players well. Wright enters his fifth year in the Greensburg Salem system as the school’s new head coach, a move that occurred late following the January resignation of former coach Alyssa Bates. “It’s...
Derry softball team needs influx of talent
At the Derry softball field, the “help wanted” sign is out. “I still have spots open,” coach John DePalma said as the Trojans prepared for a March 25 visit from Apollo-Ridge for their season opener. “I don’t have the luxury of a lot of girls, but for the ones that...
Derry baseball team wants to build on ‘special year’
After a baseball season in which they notched their first WPIAL section title since 1992 and won their first playoff game since 2005, the Derry Trojans are looking for more. They’ll have to do it with a retooled roster. “We had a pretty special year in 2021,” coach John Flickinger...
Duquesne men end season by tying losing streak record
Forget its unimaginable record, Duquesne was playing for pride. And, despite having won just six games — all in the first half of the season — it showed. The Dukes played like they knew how to win. They almost did. But, while it came down to the wire Wednesday in...
Latrobe’s Jared Kollar an asset for Rutgers after leaving Seton Hill
There it was, seemingly jumping off the page. Nestled among the names of a majority of players hailing from Rutgers’ home state of New Jersey (25) and neighboring New York (eight), was the reference to former Seton Hill and Latrobe pitcher Jared Kollar on the Big Ten school’s baseball roster...
Duquesne’s comeback bid vs. La Salle falls short, losing streak reaches 16
And now, Duquesne Nation turns its attention to the Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament. Will it be “one-and-done” for the hapless Dukes after they dropped their 16th consecutive game in their regular-season finale Saturday? Or can they extend their season, as freshman guard Primo Spears wondered after his career-high 34...
Robert Morris sees season end with loss to Cleveland State in Horizon quarterfinals
Defending champion Cleveland State followed the script against Robert Morris in the Horizon League Tournament men’s basketball quarterfinals Thursday, capping a night of victories for the higher-seeded teams. Torrey Patton scored 25 points to lead the top-seeded Vikings into the semifinals with an 83-67 victory over the Colonials at Wolstein...
Duquesne’s losing streak hits 15 games after triple-overtime loss at George Washington
Everybody wanted it, but nobody wanted it. Until George Washington decided it wasn’t going to be the one to end Duquesne’s monumental, 15-game losing streak. Joe Bamisile scored 30 points and George Washington survived Duquesne’s valiant bid for another elusive victory to come away with a 98-93 triple-overtime victory Wednesday...
Late-season victories keep Hempfield hockey in playoff hunt
In the fall, hockey players at Hempfield and Latrobe high schools can be found playing on the same club teams. Come time for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League season to begin, they’re obviously on opposite sides. “During the week, when they’re playing against each other at the high school level,...
Shady Side Academy knocks off Aliquippa to earn spot in Class 3A championship game
A parade of basketball players in dress clothes emerged from the Shady Side Academy locker room and passed by coach David Vadnais, some tapping him on the shoulder, others offering a shout-out. Sophomore Peter Kramer took his turn and proceeded towards the exit. Just then, Vadnais looked back and called...
Robert Morris men look to secure 1st victory in Horizon League Tournament
As Robert Morris approaches its second appearance in the Horizon League men’s basketball tournament, securing its first postseason victory in the league could depend on several points. When the 10th-seeded Colonials (7-23) meet No. 7 Youngstown State (18-13) in a first-round game Tuesday night at Beeghley Center in Youngstown, Ohio,...
Defensively sound Latrobe battling for postseason berth
Consider Josh Werner’s plight. Latrobe’s hockey coach drives 40-plus miles each way to pilot the Wildcats’ home games at Greensburg’s Nevin Arena. For seven seasons, Werner has endured long nights, but he’s not complaining. “I love coaching this team. That makes things easier,” said Werner, a former club team hockey...
Robert Morris men lose on road to Wright State
For a while, Robert Morris had its mojo going. Then, Wright State responded. In a big way. Grant Basile scored 20 points to go with eight rebounds, and Wright State rallied from an eight-point, second-half deficit to defeat Robert Morris, 71-61, on Saturday night at Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio....
Rhode Island cruises past Duquesne as Dukes drop 14th straight game
When things are going badly for a struggling basketball team, nothing should be a surprise. So, when Rhode Island’s Jeremy Sheppard took a lead pass from Malik Martin and dribbled to half court Saturday with the first-half clock winding down, Sheppard did what anyone else might do: He heaved the...
Southmoreland enjoys home-court advantage in Class 4A win over Highlands
The Southmoreland girls basketball team continues to thrive on its home court. The Scotties set a school record Friday night for consecutive home victories by any boys or girls basketball program with a dominating 50-24 rout of cold-shooting Highlands to secure their third trip in as many years to the...
Robert Morris men drop 3rd straight with loss to Northern Kentucky
In the Northeast Conference, the Robert Morris brand emanated with other marquee programs in the loop. Now that the Colonials have jumped to the higher-profile Horizon League, coach Andy Toole has a message, yet again, to anyone who is up for listening. Can you hear him, players (wink-wink)? With Toole...
Alverton native Brandon Stone finds familiarity at Robert Morris
Andy Toole turned and pointed to his bench. Brandon Stone immediately popped up and headed to the scorer’s table. It was hard to miss the slender, 6-foot-11, 200-pound Stone, who grew up in the southwestern Westmoreland County village of Alverton, as he was buzzed into the game during a stoppage...
Hampton coach Lafko gets career win No. 499 as Talbots defeat Kiski Area
Joe Lafko has been coaching boys basketball for a long time, and he’s won his share of games during a 32-year high school career. Hampton provided Lafko with win No. 499 on Monday night as the Talbots, behind Eric Weeks’ 19 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers during an explosive third-quarter burst,...
Struggles continue for Robert Morris in overtime loss to Illinois-Chicago
After losing to the worst team in Division I, Robert Morris looked as though Saturday night it would come out on top against a more formidable foe. But even a big lead against Illinois-Chicago wasn’t safe for the Colonials, who followed up an embarrassing, 10-point home loss two nights earlier...
Duquesne’s skid hits 12 after loss at St. Bonaventure
Duquesne’s free fall in basketball has reached 12 consecutive losses, but coach Keith Dambrot insisted he is not going to stop searching for a successful formula. “We’re just trying to find some guys who will compete and who care about winning and competing,” Dambrot said. “Even if they don’t win,...
Robert Morris loses at home to IUPUI, Division I’s worst team in NET rankings
Andy Toole immediately realized it. The Robert Morris basketball coach surmised early on that his players weren’t prepared for their Horizon League rematch Thursday night with lowly IUPUI. He was right. Toole said the Colonials were “the dummies” who lost at home to a team dead-last among 358 Division I...
Duquesne men lose 11th game in row
Duquesne has hit bottom. The last-place Dukes completed a stretch of three games in five days by sputtering to their 11th consecutive loss Wednesday night, in part because of a horrendous offensive showing against George Washington at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Joe Bamisile scored 21 points to lead the visiting Colonials...
Jason Trout humbled to be part of Pitt-Greensburg’s 1st Hall of Fame class
He is the second-leading scorer in boys basketball at Greensburg Salem High School, having topped the list for a nine-year period from his graduation in 1993 until 2002, when his record was broken. His 2,160 career points in men’s basketball at Pitt-Greensburg from 1996-2000 represents the most at the Hempfield-based,...
League-leading Davidson extends Duquesne’s losing streak to 10
Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot — his team mired in a long losing streak — isn’t planning any new wrinkles just now. There’s no time, he said, with a schedule crammed with four games in eight days. “We just have to keep getting at it,” Dambrot said Monday night after...
Kahliel Spear scores 27 points to lead Robert Morris past Youngstown State
Robert Morris finally found a way to win a close basketball game Sunday after falling short in nine of its first 10 single-digit decisions. Kahliel Spear scored a career-high 27 points, and the Colonials rode their hot second-half shooting to rally from a 10-point deficit and beat Youngstown State, 73-68,...
